Articles publicats (Ciència Animal)
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- ItemOpen AccessMaternal hydroxytyrosol supplementation enhances antioxidant capacity and immunometabolic adaptations in nutrient-restricted beef cows and their offspring(MDPI, 2025) Escalera Moreno, Nieves; Álvarez Rodríguez, Javier; López de Armentia, Leire; Macià, Alba; Martín-Alonso, María José; Molina, E.; Villalba Mata, Daniel; Sanz, Albina; Serrano Pérez, BeatrizThe impact of maternal dietary restriction and hydroxytyrosol (HT) supplementation during the last third of gestation on plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, total antioxidant capacity (ABTS assay), and peripheral blood gene expression related to antioxidant defence, immune response, and energy metabolism was evaluated in beef cows and calves. Two feeding treatments in late gestation (T100% vs. T60% of nutrient requirements) and two HT levels (Control vs. HT at 180 mg/kg of diet) were evaluated during gestation (n = 46 cows) and lactation (n = 37 cows and calves). In pregnant cows, undernutrition led to inhibition of glucose oxidation (PDK4), decreased lipid synthesis (HMGCS1 and SCD) and TLR signalling; T60% cows showed higher plasma MDA (p < 0.05) with no positive effect of HT on antioxidant capacity. Contrarily, during lactation, earlier HT supplementation upregulated antioxidant capacity and modulated antioxidant gene expression (p < 0.05). In calves, there was an increase in SOD1, CAT, and GPX1, especially in the T60%-HT group (p < 0.05). Interestingly, HT supplementation increased glucose transport (SLC2A1/GLUT1) during pregnancy and lactation (p < 0.05). However, it caused different effects on immunometabolic regulation in both dams and calves, depending on maternal diet. Overall, maternal HT supplementation under restricted nutritional conditions promoted postpartum antioxidant capacity and modulated immune and metabolic gene expression in cows and calves.
- ItemOpen AccessOutcomes of the LIFE INVASAQUA project: An integrated approach for the prevention and awareness of aquatic invasive species in the Iberian Peninsula(Pensoft Publishers, 2025-10-07) López-Cañizares, Celia; Olivo del Amo, Rosa; Guillén-Beltrán, Antonio; Torralva, Mar; Anastácio, Pedro M.; Banha, Filipe; Brandão, Pedro; Barca, Sandra; Cobo, Fernando; Vieira-Lanero, Rufino; Casals i Martí, Frederic; Sánchez-González, Jorge R.; Perdices, Anabel; Machordom, Annie; Miranda, RafaelInvasive alien species (IAS) pose a growing threat to biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being, particularly in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. These species lead to severe environmental and economic impacts by altering habitats, disrupting ecological processes and outcompeting native species. In the Iberian Peninsula, IAS represent a major risk to its unique freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, which are particularly vulnerable to biological invasions due to their connection to human activities and high number of endemic species. Awareness of IAS and their impacts among the general public and stakeholders in Spain and Portugal remains limited, hindering effective management strategies and policies. The LIFE INVASAQUA project (2018–2023), co-funded by the LIFE Programme of the European Commission (LIFE17 GIE/ES/000515), aimed to support management, communication and the dissemination of information on aquatic IAS in the Iberian Peninsula. To achieve this, diverse partners were involved, including universities, research institutions, an environmental news agency and NGOs. Key actions included the production of governance tools such as strategic recommendations and IAS priority lists and communication resources such as a traveling exhibition for the public and codes of conduct for stakeholders. The project delivered 98 training activities to over 2,900 participants and engaged more than 430 institutions and 246,000 people through 598 public events in Spain and Portugal. LIFE INVASAQUA significantly enhanced public awareness and transnational collaboration, evidenced by improved communication, increased social media engagement, and positive shifts in public perception, as revealed by 7,078 records of a survey based on a questionnaire on the Iberian public’s perspectives. These outcomes foster strengthened IAS management frameworks and support implementation of relevant European and national regulations. The project’s long-term efforts focus on developing and replicating actions with the greatest audience reach and the highest impact on public perception of IAS issues. Lessons learned include the importance of sustained public engagement, the need for continued stakeholder collaboration, and the effectiveness of integrating educational campaigns with policy enforcement for sustained success in IAS management.
- ItemOpen AccessThe gut microbiota as a predictor of feed efficiency and feeding behavior in Iberian pigs(Oxford University Press, 2025) Nuñez, Pedro; Casto-Rebollo, Cristina; Martinez-Boggio, Guillermo; Negro Rama, Sara; Casellas, Joaquim; Varona, Luis; Pena i Subirà, Ramona Natacha; Peñagaricano, Francisco; Ibáñez-Escriche, NoeliaIn recent years, the production system of Iberian pigs has been significantly intensified, with new technologies playing a crucial role in recording traits such as feed efficiency. These advances also allow the study of different traits related to feeding behavior. In addition, the composition of the gut microbiota has previously been associated with animal health and performance. This study evaluated the relationship between the host genetics, the gut microbiota, and traits of feed efficiency and feeding behavior up to 180 d of age. First, we quantified the phenotypic variance explained by the host genetics and the gut microbiota using fecal samples collected at 2-time points: 140 and 180 d. Second, we evaluated whether the microbiota at 140 d could serve as an early predictor of phenotypes measured at 180 d. Identifying accurate early predictors may serve as a valuable tool to support future strategies aimed at reducing testing duration in the nucleus of selection. Our results indicate that microbiota accounts for a low to moderate proportion of total phenotypic variance and improves model fit for feed efficiency traits when included. Furthermore, the inclusion of microbiota data at 140 d improved the prediction of feed efficiency traits at 180 d but did not improve predictions for feeding behavior. This study provides valuable insights into variance component estimation for feed efficiency and feeding behavior traits in Iberian pigs fed with automatic feeders and highlights new opportunities to explore the role of microbiota in feed efficiency.
- ItemOpen AccessDietary strategies of feral and domestic horses under varying grazing pressures: insights for Mediterranean forest management(Springer Nature, 2025-09-09) Gort-Esteve, Araceli; Bartolomé, Jordi; Roselló Molinero, Xènia; Torra Burgués, Ada; Riera, Joan Lluís; Nieto Espinet, AriadnaThis study evaluates the potential of horses in Mediterranean forest management through their feeding behaviours. While traditionally overshadowed by livestock like sheep and goats, horses demonstrate significant adaptability, making them possible effective agents for reducing fuel loads and maintaining open landscapes. The findings highlight distinct feeding strategies among horse types. Feral Przewalski’s horses, in a mosaic landscape, with patches of forest, scrub and open grassland mostly consume graminoids throughout the year, maintaining open grasslands with minimal impact on woody vegetation. Rustic breeds, such as the Pottoka, adapt over extended grazing periods by initially consuming highly flammable graminoids and transitioning to woody plants as grasses deplete, effectively managing both fine and coarse fuels. Crossbred horses, under short-term, high-intensity grazing with supplemental feeding, rapidly shift from fine fuels to woody plants. Diet was quantified from 50 fresh faecal samples using micro-histological analysis and compositional Dirichlet regression. Although the study does not directly quantify vegetation changes or reductions in flammable biomass, the observed dietary shifts—particularly the increased consumption of woody species—highlight horses' potential role in understory management. These results suggest that different horse types respond flexibly to forage availability and may be useful in integrated strategies for reducing fire risk, especially when combined with other herbivores or active management practices. Overall, horses present a flexible and natural tool for forest management, with preliminary and exploratory evidence suggesting that they may contribute to fuel reduction through adaptive foraging behaviour, although further studies are needed to confirm vegetation impacts. Their use complements traditional fire prevention techniques and promotes the semi-freedom of horses, supporting their inclusion in sustainable landscape management.
- ItemOpen AccessThis study focuses on modelling the distribution of freshwater fish species to update Natura 2000 standard data forms in Spain.(MDPI, 2022) Lanzas, Mónica; Sánchez-González, Jorge R.; Casals i Martí, Frederic; Morcillo, Felipe; Guil, Francisco; Hermoso, VirgilioFreshwater systems are among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide, and fish species inhabiting them are increasingly endangered by different pressures. One of the most important tools in the European Union (EU) to halt this decline is the Natura 2000 network (N2000). The Habitat Directive (HD) includes freshwater habitats and 39 native fish species from Spain considered of Community interest. Here, we evaluate the degree of spatial coverage of freshwater fish in the N2000 network in Spain, in accordance with reporting needs for the HD. Each N2000 site needs to provide estimates of occupancy as part of the Standard Data Forms, that could be outdated or incomplete. Updated information should help enhance conservation of freshwater fish species in Spain. We compiled a dataset with 10,000 field observations for 60 species and a dataset of environmental predictors including climate, topography, and land cover variables. We then used BIOMOD2 for modelling the spatial distribution of 40 freshwater fish species, 28 of them included in the HD. We then translated these distributions into two presence-absence maps: a maximum potential distribution, and a minimum potential distribution, and used them to measure the degree of coverage of species in the N2000. We found that, on average, up to 30% and 35% of the maximum and minimum potential distribution, respectively, of freshwater fish species were covered under N2000. However, there were differences between species, only a quarter of the species had at least 40% of its minimum potential distribution under N2000. For instance, Cobitis calderoni had a coverage of its minimum potential distribution inside N2000 under the 10% compared with Parachondrostoma turiense or Pseudochondrostoma polylepis that reached the 70% of coverage. The spatial coverage of species under N2000 and its consideration in the policy framework could help to ensure its conservation and to better monitor its conservation status over time. The information presented here could help prioritizing conservation measures inside N2000 for freshwater ecosystems, and to designate new Special Areas of Conservations to fill some of the gaps identified in this study, as part of the objectives of the new EU Biodiversity Strategy.